关键词: 深海采矿, 多金属结核, 环境监测, 系统海试

Abstract: The Western-Pacific region contains abundant polymetallic nodule resources. Effectively exploiting these resources is of great significance for the metal resources supply in China. To verify the feasibility of deep-sea mining and achieve commercial mining, it is necessary to conduct in-situ sea trials of the mining system in the mining area and develop environmental monitoring procedures to assess the impact of the mining operations on the environment. This study focuses on the monitoring content and monitoring plans by establishing a set of environmental monitoring and impact assessment procedures. It details the environmental monitoring procedures for sea trials across pre-trial, in-progress, and post-trial phases. The results show that polymetallic nodule mining is feasible in the Western-Pacific region. However, the impacts of mining plumes and sediments on the bottom marine ecosystem should be considered carefully, alongside the formulation of effective mitigation measures.

Key words: deep-sea mining, polymetallic nodule, environmental monitoring, system sea trial